Kenya’s Supreme Court has approved the use of military force to restore order after days of anti-tax protests that at one point overwhelmed police.
More than 20 people have reportedly been killed in the nationwide protests, which have been led largely by youth opposed to government plans to raise taxes.
Armoured military vehicles patrolled the streets of the capital Nairobi on Thursday as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who threatened to storm the presidential palace.
A judge ruled that the military deployment was vital to protect government installations, but gave authorities two days to clarify how long the deployment would last and what the rules would be.
“Using the military in a blanket manner without defining the scope of their operation and the duration of their operation is a dangerous trend that could lead to militarisation of the country,” judge Lawrence Mugambi ruled.
The Kenya Bar Association, which had asked the court to send the army back to barracks, said it “respects, but disagrees with” the ruling.
President William Ruto bowed to pressure on Wednesday and said he would withdraw the Finance Bill containing the unpopular tax proposals, a day after parliament was briefly stormed and set alight by angry protesters.
Isaac Mwaura, the government spokesman, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the withdrawal of the bill was a “huge blow” to the government as it left a “big hole” in the budget.
“It is really a big setback,” said Mwaura, who accused “misinformed” Kenyans of opposing it.
“There was a very well-choreographed campaign, both locally and internationally, to misinform and disinform people so that they could create an uprising,” he added.
The finance bill aimed to raise taxes to ease the country’s debt burden, as requested by lenders including the International Monetary Fund.
Many protesters doubt that the president will implement the austerity measures he announced on Wednesday.
They have also been angered by reports of arbitrary kidnappings of protesters and the killing of at least 23 people. Some are now calling for the president to resign.
State agents have been accused of kidnapping hundreds of people linked to the protests.
The state-funded Kenya National Commission said it had helped secure the release of more than 300 people who had been “unlawfully detained”.
But Mr Mwaura denied this, saying “criminal elements seeking a coup” were trying to take advantage of the peaceful protests.
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